Kiko's Place restaurant — Restaurant in San Diego

Pricey for quality of service and food portions. The place is a little tricky to find because of where it’s located. It’s parallel to the train tracks so parking is a bit of a haste too. We came here because we enjoy the food from their truck. We waited at the register for a while with no one attending us to find out they were sitting down with other people socializing. We ordered 1 agua chile and 1 shrimp/octopus cocktail as well as 1 bottles beer which came to almost $70 with tip. I figured I ordered the XXL cocktail so it must be worth it. Well was I surprised when the items came out just to see that “XXL” sizing was exaggerated. Don’t get me wrong it was pretty to look at and tasted ok it just wasn’t something you’d expect the way it was advertised and at almost $30. We were the only people in at the time so it was off putting that we had to wait while the employee socialized and the fact that we wanted to sit outside because it was super hot inside but the outside tables were dirty. There are plenty of other places to try with better pricing...

I heard good things but was not prepared for the curveball I was about to be thrown.

The price should have been an indicator of the portions, but I was like whatever, I want three tacos. Between two of us, we ordered two four spicy fish, one spicy octopus, and one shrimp. We got two draft Modelos which came out fairly quick.

Sitting on the patio, as we got about half way through our beers, we started hearing two women talk about how they ordered 30 minutes ago. They were very frustrated. A group of six men sitting on the patio were also there a while and I never saw them receive food.

Enter curveball: Come to find out the restaurant was focusing on a large to go order and completely ignoring any patrons that were there. Everyone started going in and asking them to pack it to go.

In the end it took 40 min to get our tacos, which we switched to to-go and when we got to the hotel, one taco was missing.

I am rating four stars because everyone has an off day and the octopus was delicious. The portions are immense. You only need one taco and...

Stumbled across this place, after an overnight international flight, long queues at LAX, a shuttle bus trip from Los Angeles, and then taking the wrong trolley line to get to my hotel. What a serendipitous mistake that was.

Had outstanding fish tacos at an obscure, no longer in existence place in Kauai years ago, and have since been hunting a replicate experience every time I visit a US city, including at least three other tacos places in San Diego, which has to date been fruitless and uniformly disappointing. I think that quest is now complete.

The ingredients were so fresh, and refreshing flavors perfect, even for a jet lagged palate. And the engaging, friendly service was so welcoming. Highly recommend, and will try to get back at least once...